Zip A Dee Do Dah broke through in Sunday’s Initiation Plate (160m) after eye-catching runs at his first two starts. He scored by three-quarters of a length in a performance that pleased jockey Alan Munro.

“He’s looked a stayer from the start. His first run was great and he backed it up last time. He will learn from today’s run and get even better with time.”

Zip A Dee Do Dah (4g Cecconi – Sheka by Sandtrap) is trained by Leslie Khoo for owner Joe Singh who also raced champion three year-old Gingerbread Man. He names his horses after happy songs and some of his other winners include Johnny Hates Jazz and Honkytonk Man.

Zip A Dee Do Dah was named Civilian in New Zealand and had won an Ellerslie trial for Nigel Tiley last May. His dam Sheka was a Listed winner of the Great Northern Foal Stakes and Castletown Stakes.

Cecconi (Encosta de Lago) is also the sire of Singapore sprinter Joe Swiper who won his maiden by four lengths for Khoo in August.

Moorookyle manager Nioka Wozny repatriated Cecconi to Victoria last year. He was a brilliant Blue Diamond Preview winner for trainer David Hayes before retiring to stud in New Zealand.